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Janet Wolfson's picture

By Janet Wolfson, PT, CLWT, CWS, CLT-LANA

I have blogged in the past about the Lymphedema Treatment Act (LTA), and I'm happy to report that the LTA is now a federal law, which was passed on December 23, 2022, by the 117th Congress. It will amend Sec. 1861 [42 USC 1395x] of the Social Security Act to provide coverage for compression supplies that are “conservative, time-proven cornerstones of lymphedema treatment.”

Editor's Note: How can clinicians help support caregivers who look after family members with pressure injuries? In this interview, Kelly McFee, DNP, FNP-C, CWS, CWCN-AP, FACCWS, DAPWCA discusses how to educate caregivers on pressure injury prevention and what resources exist for caregivers for further insight.

WoundSource Editors's picture

In this interview, Ronald Sherman, DPM, MBA, and Christopher Abularrage, MD, address the steps they take to treat infected diabetic foot wounds of varying degrees, including those with osteomyelitis.

Emily Greenstein's picture

Editor's Note: After attending SAWC Spring 2023, Emily Greenstein, APRN, CNP, CWON, FACCWS, shares several facets of good wound care that she explored at the conference. She discusses going back to the basics, which include wound cleaning and involving patients in care.

Laura Swoboda, DNP, APNP, FNP-C, FNP-BC, CWOCN-AP, WOCNF

The small bright red cobblestone texture of healthy granulation tissue is just that: a granule of new collagen and the new growth of capillaries. Hypergranulation is the excessive growth of granulation tissue, a symptom of a dysfunctional wound environment. Providers can identify hypergranulation by its appearance. As opposed to the bright, bubbly red appearance of healthy granulation tissue, unhealthy granulation, and hypergranulation tissue can present as large lobes of red tissue, and the coloration can vary between bright red and darker shades. These lobes will typically sit above skin level.

By Shannon Solley, Associate Editor

Within the past 30 years, the output of medical research has increased. A 2022 review of PubMed's database found cohort studies alone have risen from just under 10,000 in 2010 to nearly 35,000 in 2020.1 In wound care, experts know that staying up to date on evidence-based practices can ensure best outcomes for patients. However, many wound care professionals may find it cumbersome to review complex studies. “We’re all really busy,” said Denise Nemeth, MPAS, PA-C, CWS. “How are we supposed to [accomplish all our responsibilities to ourselves and our patients] and, on top of that, stay on top of research, are you kidding me?"

WoundSource Practice Accelerator's picture

Recent literature has established that there is much for the medical community to learn about highly pigmented skin, specifically in the realm of wound healing and even more so in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Most distressing is the higher prevalence of amputation and mortality among patients with skin of color and DFUs as opposed to their Caucasian cohorts. In fact, a 2022 study found that patients identifying as Black were approximately 4% more likely to experience above-ankle amputation or death.

WoundSource Practice Accelerator's picture

Venous Leg Ulcers (VLUs) are among the most widespread chronic lower extremity wounds, with approximately 70% of chronic leg ulcers reported as VLUs. Across the population in the western hemisphere, it's estimated that 2% have VLUs, while those in the aging population have a greater prevalence at 5%. In the United States, 6 million people struggle with these wounds, a number dwarfed by those in other countries. For instance, in Africa, approximately 25-135 million individuals have VLUs.

WoundSource Practice Accelerator's picture

Skin is considered the body's largest organ, and any damage can often lead to scarring. Although the pathology and physiology of what leads to scarring are not entirely understood, some details are concrete, including the series of processes that occur after the skin is damaged. These processes will be discussed in detail below, as well as the different types of scars. The appearance of these scars, as a result of these processes, may also present differently on various skin tones and types.

By Hannah Fell, Digital Managing Editor

Jennifer Bouchard became a registered nurse with a BSN in 2005. Since then, she has gotten her MSN and MBA and, most recently, had the opportunity to work at a startup outpatient wound care clinic with a local hospital. It was through her experiences in that position that led to her research, which she showcases in a poster at SAWC Spring 2023.